Best and worst states for nurses in 2016

Editor's Note

Washington tops the five best states for nurses based on opportunity, competition, and work environment, according to an annual survey by WalletHub. Illinois is second, followed by Texas, Oregon, and Iowa.

The worst spot for nurses was the District of Columbia, just below Louisiana, Hawaii, Alabama, and South Carolina.

WalletHub ranked states and the District of Columbia on 14 key metrics, including average annual salary, nursing-job openings per 100,000 residents, number of healthcare facilities per 100,000 residents, mandatory overtime restrictions, average number of work hours, average commute time.

by John S Kiernan Like most segments of the economy, the nursing industry is in a state of significant transition under the weight of major overarching socioeconomic dynamics - from the aging U.S. population and the Affordable Care Act to the student-loan crisis and concerns about the future of key entitlement programs. But such concerns are not unique among recent graduates, regardless of industry.